"Her last three winning rides were for me on Melbourne Cup," Mrs Hassam said.

Mrs Hassam said Mrs Gill had only recently celebrated her birthday and was only a couple of days younger than the trainer's own daughter.

"I've known Desiree for as long as she has been riding," she said.

"How can you describe her? She was just like my daughter."

A Racing Queensland spokesperson said Mrs Gill enjoyed a distinguished riding career spanning 30 years which included a period of employment with Racing Queensland mentoring and educating apprentice jockeys.